Mr McMullan asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 11 March 1998:

(1) How many persons have worked in each department, agency, Commonwealth authority and company, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility under a contract for services entered into with a firm whose sole or predominant business is the hiring of labour to clients (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(2) In what sections of the department, agency, authority or company were the persons referred to in part (1) employed.

(3) What are the names of the labour-hire firms referred to in part (1) which provided services (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(4) How were the labour-hire firms selected.

(5) Will the Minister provide a copy of the tender documents in each case where a labour-hire firm was selected by public tender.

(6) Will the Minister provide a copy of the terms of reference for the selection of labour-hire firms.

(7) Who comprised the selection panel for successful tenders.

(8) What commission was payable by each department, agency, authority or company to each labour-hire firm for each person contracted for labour.

(9) What total sum (a) is owed and (b) was paid to each labour-hire firm.

(10) What total sum was paid to labour-hire firms in total (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(11) What projected labour requirement will be met by labour-hire firms in the departments, agencies, Commonwealth authorities or companies, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility from (a) February to June 1998 and (b) July 1998 to June 1999.

(12) How many government employees have been replaced through labour provided by labour-hire firms in each department, agency, Commonwealth authority and company, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility.

Mr McLachlan (Defence) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

Information in respect to the matters referred to in the honourable member's question is not readily available. To collect and assemble the information would be a major task. In the interests of efficient utilisation of Departmental resources, I am not prepared to authorise the time and effort involved in obtaining the information.